Implantable device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an implantable device for valuables.

The present invention concerns an implantable device for valuable objects.

Diamonds and other precious stones are often attached to selected parts of the body as jewelry in the form of piercings. The wounds produced as a result usually heal well.

Novels and movies may also feature plots in which characters have valuable objects implanted under the skin to hide them and to ensure that they are always available in times of emergency. Practically speaking, such valuable items can be implanted using a surgical procedure, as long as the regulations governing the implantation of foreign bodies are adhered to, egg. regarding the sterility of the implant. However, one problem that occurs once the diamonds or other precious stones have been implanted into soft tissue is that these foreign bodies have a tendency to move about. The foreign body may thus be forced to the outside or move into the lower layers of tissue, causing damage to important anatomical structures.

According to the present invention, the valuable objects are implanted by enclosing them in a suitable sheathing material, which guarantees adequate biocompatibility, permanence and stability at the implantation site. Furthermore, the design of the implantable device is such that it can be applied, identified and removed easily.

One aspect of the invention, therefore, concerns an implantable device containing one or more valuable objects in a container having an outer, tubular sheath made from a biocompatible plastic material. The implantable device can be used both by people and animals.

Valuable objects such as those described in this invention may be, for example, precious stones, especially diamonds and/or information carriers, e.g. memory chips, microdocuments, etc. If several valuable items are located inside the device, they must not be allowed to touch each other. The implantable device preferably has dimensions of at least 20 mm in length, preferably 30 mm, preferably 50 mm, preferably 100 mm, preferably 150 mm, up to about 250 mm, preferably up to 200 mm. The device should have a diameter of about 2 mm to about 30 mm, preferably 4 to 20 mm. It may also be smaller, e.g. in the range of 4 to 15 mm or 4 to 10 mm.

The implantable device comprises an outer, tubular sheath made from a biocompatible plastic material. The plastic material preferably includes a silicone plastic, e.g. polydimethylsilicone, or related plastics, e.g. halogenated and/or silicone plastics substituted with aromatic groups. All other types of biocompatible plastic materials, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane and polyamide, e.g. polyacrylamide, such as PMMA or Nylon, polyterephthalate, fluorinated plastics, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, or copolymers thereof, are also suitable.

To improve its mechanical strength, the sheath material may also be a composite material, whereby the plastic material, e.g. the silicone plastic is reinforced with fibers, such as textile fibers, metallic fibers, synthetic fibers and/or carbon fibers.

The sheath is preferably formed from a flexible plastic material.

Instead of having a homogeneous outer sheath made from e.g. silicone rubber, a fabric may also be used, e.g. PTFE fabric, such as is used in vascular prostheses, or open-meshed fabric made from intersecting synthetic or metallic yarns in the form of a support network.

The sheath preferably has a thickness of about 0.2 mm to about 4.0 mm, preferably from 0.5 mm, preferably 1.0 mm, preferably 2.0 mm to 2.5 mm, preferably up to 3 mm, preferably up to 3.5 mm. On the other hand, the sheath may also completely fill the interior of the device, so that the valuable objects are completely embedded in the sheath.

The inner and/or outer surface of the plastic sheath is preferably smooth. However, it may also be raised, or in the form of a gel or foam. It is especially preferred that at least the outer surface of the sheath is smooth. The surface, especially the outer surface, may be chemically modified, e.g. by hydrophilization, to improve the biocompatibility and slidability. Suitable hydrophilic groups are, for example, hydroxy groups, and/or polyethylene oxide groups. Furthermore, the surface of the sheath, especially the outer surface, may be coated at least partly with a biological substance, which improves its biocompatibility. For example, glycosaminoglycans, such as heparin and/or hyaluronic acid, may be used as the biological substances. The biological substances may be immobilized adsorptively, by ionic bonds and/or by covalent bonds on the surface of the sheath.

The tubular sheath containing the valuable objects may, in principle, have any type of cross-section, for example, a circular or oblate cross-section, such as oval, cross-shaped or star-shaped. Especially preferred is a circular, particularly a spheroidal, cross-section.

In addition to the sheath containing the valuable objects, the implantable device may also have a thread-like extension at one end at least, which is used for marking its position within the body. Such a thread-like extension may be formed from reinforcement fibers, for example, which are incorporated into the plastic material of the sheath.

The valuable objects may be placed inside the sheath individually or in series. If the surfaces of the valuable objects are smooth and edge-free (in the form of cabochons or rough diamonds), they can be inserted into the tubular sheath under elastic tension, i.e. the diameter of the elastic sheath is smaller than the diameter of the circular or oval valuable objects. This ensures that the valuable objects are held in place by the elastic tension of the sheath. This produces an implant in the shape of a seedpod which, once it has been incorporated into the soft tissue, stays fixed in place anatomically by means of a connective tissue layer.

Valuable objects like cut diamonds and precious stones or electronic components, which do not have edge-free surfaces, should be made into a spherical or oval shape before they are inserted into the sheath. In this case, they can either be covered in shaped bodies, such as foams, gels or solid masses made from plastic, or they can be placed accurately fitting into capsules, which are closed by means of a screw top or by gluing. The shaped bodies may each contain one or more valuable objects. If several valuable objects are placed into a single shaped body, they should be prevented from coming into direct contact with each other by means of a separating material, e.g. a film. The shaped bodies containing the valuable objects can thus be placed inside the outer sheaths to produce the desired seedpod shapes. The seedpod shape is preferable but not obligatory.

An embodiment is also conceivable, in which a sheath, e.g. a silicone elastomer tube, is filled with a highly cohesive silicone gel, in which the valuable items (cut diamonds) are embedded at intervals.

Also conceivable are filling materials made from conventional silicone implants (breast implant), whereby the valuable objects are embedded in silicone gel.

In addition to the valuable objects, the implantable device may also contain an identifier, e.g. a transponder which, when used in conjunction with a suitable signaling device, permits the implant to be identified and/or located.

The industrial property right also relates to a device for implanting the container which holds the valuable objects. This is preferably a smooth-walled cannula made from metal or plastic, which can accommodate the container of valuable objects, preferably so that it fits accurately, i.e. a capillary gap remains between the inner wall Of the cannula and the outer wall of the container of valuable objects. One end of the cannula is open, right-angled or sloping, not in every case but preferably blunt, with broken edges, exceptionally also sharp and smooth. The other end is conically tapered and preferably fitted with a Luer cone device.

The procedure for implanting the container of valuable objects is as follows:

-   -   Numb the area (exceptionally with an anesthetic),     -   Make a stab incision in the skin,     -   Introduce the cannula filled with the container of valuable         objects into the subcutaneous fatty tissue or the musculature         with the open end,     -   Place a conventional syringe containing a physiological saline         solution onto the Luer cone whereby, as a result of pressure on         the syringe plunger, the saline solution hydraulically forces         the implant containing the valuable objects into the tissue,         whilst withdrawing the cannula at the same time.     -   Instead of using a syringe of saline solution to force the         implant out of the applicator, an accurately fitting stamp made         from plastic or metal may also be used. In this case, the         applicator is preferably open at both ends and there is no Luer         device.     -   The wound in the skin is closed by means of stitches or an         adhesive.

The invention will also be illustrated with the aid of the following figures.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the implantable device. The valuable objects (2), e.g. memory chips, are arranged in a shaped body (4), egg. a capsule made from polyethylene. An outer sheath (6) is arranged around the shaped body (4), e.g. made from a silicone plastic, in such a way that the tubular device has several thick places and thus is in the shape of a seedpod. A thread (8) is located at one end of the device.

FIG. 2 shows a further preferred embodiment of the implantable device of the invention. The valuable objects (10), e.g. cut diamonds, are enclosed in shaped bodies (12). The inner containers are located in a tubular, outer sheath (14), made from e.g. silicone rubber. In this embodiment, the device has no thick places, so that it has the same shape as a suppository. Furthermore, an identifier (16), e.g. an RFID chip, is arranged in the sheath (14). A thread (18) is also fitted to the device.

FIG. 3 shows a further preferred embodiment of the implantable device of the invention. Several valuable objects (20), e.g. cut diamonds, are embedded in a plastic mass (22) made from e.g. silicone plastic, which may be surrounded by a sheath, or else may act as the sheath for the valuable objects in its own right. The device has a smooth shape without any thick places.

FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of a shaped body in which valuable objects (30 a, b), such as cut diamonds, can be embedded. The shaped body is in the form of a capsule (32), e.g. made from an acrylic plastic such as PMMA, or carbon, and may have a male screw thread (34) and an associated female screw thread (36). Once the valuable objects have been placed inside the capsule and, if required, a spacer device (38), e.g. a silicone film, has been inserted, the capsule is screwed together and inserted into a sheath (not shown).

FIG. 5 shows an applicator, in which the implantable device (40) is inserted into a cannula (42) with a Luer cone device (44). The cannula (42) is placed onto a syringe (46) having a plunger (48). The syringe contains a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid, for example a physiological saline solution (50). As a result of pressure on the plunger (46), the liquid forces the implantable device (40) into the tissue. 

1. An implantable device, characterized-in-that it contains one or more valuable objects in a container with an outer, tubular sheath having one or several thick places, made from a biocompatible plastic material, whereby the plastic material is a silicone plastic and/or a composite material based on a silicone plastic.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized-in-that the valuable objects include precious stones, especially diamonds.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized-in-that the valuable objects include information carriers.
 4. canceled
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized-in-that the sheath has a circular, oval, cross-shaped or star-shaped cross-section.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized-in-that the surface, especially at least the outer surface of the sheath, is smooth.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized-in-that the surface, especially at least the outer surface of the sheath, is at least partly chemically modified.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized-in-that the surface, especially the outer surface of the sheath, is at least partly coated with a biological substance, especially with a glycosaminoglycan such as heparin and/or hyaluronic acid.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized-in-that it has a thread-like extension at one end at least.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized-in-that it contains a single valuable object.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized-in-that it contains several valuable objects arranged in series.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 11, characterized-in-that the valuable objects are arranged inside the sheath so that they do not come into contact with each other.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized-in-that the valuable objects inside the sheath are embedded in shaped bodies.
 14. The device as claimed in claim 13, characterized-in-that the shaped bodies include foams, gels, solid masses or capsules.
 15. canceled
 16. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized-in-that it also includes an identifier.
 17. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized-in-that it is arranged in an implantation cannula.
 18. The device as claimed in claim 17, characterized-in-that it is accommodated accurately fitting by the implantation cannula. 